Green Peas: Allergy-Friendly Protein for Poultry

1. Nutritional Highlights

• Crude protein: 20–29%
• Metabolizable energy: Comparable to common cereal grains
• Digestibility: Improves significantly when peas are dehulled, pelleted, or heat-treated

2. Performance in Poultry

• Supports normal growth and healthy feed conversion
• Some trials reported improvements in body-weight gain and FCR compared with conventional control diets

Practical takeaway
Green peas can replace or complement typical protein sources in broiler or layer diets without compromising production performance.

3. An Allergy-Friendly Alternative

Why they’re easier on sensitive flocks

• Lower incidence of dietary sensitivity compared with soy
• Different legume structure reduces repeated exposure to common soy-related antinutritional factors
• Balanced amino-acid profile that can be easily complemented with other grains or supplemental methionine

Where it fits best

• Flocks showing sensitivity to soy or other legumes
• Organic and Non-GMO feed systems
• Producers aiming to diversify protein sources for more stable feed programs

4. How to Use Green Peas in Poultry Diets

Processing that works best

• Dehulling
• Pelleting
• Heat-treating
  These methods enhance protein and starch digestibility while reducing antinutritional compounds.

Feeding guidelines

• Use moderate inclusion levels in broiler and layer diets
• Adjust methionine where necessary
• Combine peas with other grains to balance energy and amino acids

Strategic applications

• Useful in rotation with soy-based formulas
• Suitable for allergy-sensitive or specialty-market flocks
• Effective for producers seeking more flexibility in ingredient sourcing

5. Why Green Peas Make Sense for Modern Poultry Farms

Benefits for producers

• Compatible with organic and Non-GMO programs
• Helps reduce overreliance on a single protein source
• Lower allergenic risk than soy
• Offers clean, transparent ingredient labeling

In summary
Green peas bring together solid protein content, dependable metabolizable energy, and an adaptable amino-acid profile. When properly processed and balanced, they provide poultry farms with a flexible, allergy-friendly, and performance-stable alternative to soy or cereal-heavy feeds.